Trick-case.



F. L. ROUSE.

TRICK CASE- APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1913.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Inwmr,

c n N o T a m m 0 c H P m m M. P M a M u L m nivrrnn snares Parana: erosion.

FRANK L. HOUSE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNGR TO MARGARET 1\T. ROSS, OEBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRICK-CASE.

Application filed May 29, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, FRANK L. RoUsE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trick-Cases, of which the follow ing is a full and exact description.

This invention pertains to that type of trick cases in which a filled container, when opened in a certain way, will appear to be entirely empty; and the objects of my improvements are, first, the efiecting of a more certain and secret means for releasably locking within the body of the case the articlecontaining portion; and, second, the construction of a more attractive and readily opened case.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a case embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the same showing the article-containing slide locked within the case-body, and the false bottom partially withdrawn to disclose an apparently empty case. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the said slide partially withdrawn to expose its contents. Fig. 4 is a sectional edge view of the case. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the case complete. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the lock-controlling member.

The case body 1 is preferably a flattened tube in shape, as shown in cross section in Fig. 6, with one end open and the opposite end closed by a transversely movable end member 2.

Within said body is the false bottom 3 having sides 4 fitting the curved sides or edges 5 of the body 1, as shown in Fig. 6, and having a rounded incurved end 6, as shown in Fig. 4 adapted to slide in between the lips 7 of the body. The end of said false bottom opposite to the incurved end 6 is entirely open, and is formed with a slight shoulder 9 for the purpose of engaging with a shoulder 10 on one of said lips, as shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of preventing the entire withdrawal of the false bottom.

Slidable within the member which I have termed the false bottom, and snugly fitting between the latters curved sides 4, as shown in Fig. 6, is the true bottom or container proper 11, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Serial No. 770,783.

When said container is held within the case body, as by a lock to be hereinafter described, said false bottom can be freely withdrawn from between the case body and container to a point terminated by the engagement of said shoulders 9 and 10. While thus held, the outermost end 12 of the container is hidden beneath the topmost lip of the case body, and the same rendered practically invisible. When, on the other hand, the container is released and the false bottom is withdrawn, then the container comes out with the latter and exposes its contents, the outer end 1:2 being hidden beneath the overhung end 6 of the false bottom.

For locking the container within the case, its end 13 is provided with a hook 14 adapted to be engaged with the hook 15 carried by the laterally movable end 2. The latter is held in place by means of the lugs 17 projecting inward from the body, as shown in Fig. 4, and engaging slots 19 in said end member 16 as shown in Fig. 7. Said slots are disposed for permitting sufficient movement of said end member to enable its hook 15 to be disengaged from the hook 13, and so to unlock the container. A tension spring 20 acts normally to hold said end member with its hook in engagement with the hook 13, so that ordinarily the container will not appear when the case is apparently opened. Further, said hooks are so constructed that after the container has been released and withdrawn, the return of the container to its normal location will cause the reengagement of said hooks.

For releasing the container, all that needs to be done is for the user to secretly press the end member 2 for a trifling distance in the direction of its length, and so to disengage said hooks; at practically the same instant drawing the false bottom and container outward as far as desired, the said releasing position of the end member being illustrated in Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the case is made without sharp corners, all being rounded over and rendered incapable of cutting or tearing the pocket containing the same. While this adds much to the attractiveness of its appearance, the rounded over sides aid materially in concealing the fact of there being two juxtaposed edges, as indicated in Fig. 6, Moreover, the design and arrangement of parts serve to render the What I claim as my invention and for which I desire Letters Patent is as follows, to wit:

A trick case comprising a body portion having both ends open, an end member therefor having a rim whose edges are coterminous with the edges of one open end of the body portion, plates fastened Within said end member to the side rim thereof and projecting within the body portion, said plates having slots parallel with the edges of said side rim, pins projecting from the body portion into engagement with said slots to permit transverse movement of the end member relative to the longitudinal line of the body portion, said, platesbeingdisposed for contacting With the body portion at one end but not with their other end, whereby movement of the end member in one direction alone is permitted, a false bottom slidable in said body portion and having an outer end and two sides, and means locking the false bottom and end member in mutual engagement when the end member is in its normal position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of May, 1913.

FRANK L. ROUSE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. BROWN, A. B. UPI-1AM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

